CMT Seniors

As students walk into CMT, the sign on the door welcomes them in to join the community inside. CMT is open all day, every day, DOOR ALWAYS OPEN unless CMT Director Bill Creach is off-campus. “We’re open for business,” Creach said. “Sometimes business is serious, sometimes business is silly, but I just want to be available for the kids however I can.” | AVA BELCHEZ SENIORS EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR PLACE TO ESCAPE campus ministry, a student destination

AVA BELCHEZ

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Walking into the Campus Ministry Team office, senior Mikey Hanson says “hello” to CMT director Bill Creach and asks assistant Nancy Miller for the question of the day, with the reward of Smarties as an incentive.

Hanson, like several seniors, finds himself in CMT at least every other day, as a TA or just to say hi to whoever is there. CMT is almost always occupied by students, and according to Creach, seniors make up the majority of students in CMT, other than lunch.

The most busy time of the day in CMT is lunch, as every chair at the table in the room is filled. Creach is typically seen sitting at the table with the students joining in the conversations. For many people, such as senior Lola Rios, CMT is a place they find themselves in almost every day of the week during lunch — just one of the examples of community found there.

“Everyone’s always really friendly, open to talking to new people and welcoming,” Rios said. “You always know it’s a place you can go to if you need anything.”

Although lunches in CMT are busy, there are still many students who do not take advantage of its benefits, something Rios advises to do.

“If you’re wanting to check it out, just go one day and see, because before this year I didn’t really know much about it either, but then it turned out to be a good thing to go to,” Rios said.

Like Rios, senior Lizzy Perez found herself using CMT her senior year, and now is in there at least once or twice every day.

“I started this year when I started to TA for [Creach] first semester,” Perez said. “But I wish I had known about it since freshman year, because I would have probably been in there the majority of the time during my four years.”

According to Perez, she is drawn to CMT because of its calm and collected atmosphere that gets her through the school day.

“It’s just a place to escape if I’m stressed or something and I just need a second to escape reality and take a second to regather myself,” Perez said. “CMT is the place to do [that]”

Whether it’s grabbing a bottle of water, answering the question of the day or taking a moment to rest, Perez encourages students to visit CMT if they haven’t already.

“It’s definitely not everyone’s scene, not everybody likes it in there,” Perez said, “But definitely check it out because for the people that are like me it can really be a helpful place.”

Another aspect that Perez said is impactful is the example Creach sets. According to Perez, the way he puts everyone before him is inspiring. Perez is one of Creach’s several TAs, who assist him in making the birthday signs for lockers, delivering passes, setting up for Mass and other odd jobs that Creach needs help with.

Hanson is one such TA, and has been for all of senior year. He said he has been using CMT throughout all of his time in

high school, stopping in to take a break and greet Creach, who is a family friend of his.

Hanson said his favorite part about CMT is seeing all the people who come in to say hi and talking to everyone at lunch or during his TA period.

“CMT is just a place where you can let loose and take a break for the day if you’re really stressed,” Hanson said. “You can go into CMT and Mr. Creach will be there to help you and probably the TAs also.”

In the school, CMT has revealed that faith and community are connected, which is seen in the small, brightly lit room labeled Campus Ministry.

“CMT has helped me see faith in a different way because I used to think that the only way to be faithful was by going to Mass,” Hanson said. “CMT helped me see [faith] by just being with a community that cares for you and for everyone.”

Hanging above CMT director Bill Creach’s office door, these sticky notes NOTES OF LOVE encourage positive thoughts. The notes join other messages of affrimation and positivity on the walls of CMT, placed by both students and Creach. | AVA BELCHEZ

What does CMT mean to you?

“I wouldn’t be friends with some of the people I’m friends with now if I didn’t have CMT.” SENIOR WILLIAM WATSON

“I always feel welcomed there, and I love seeing new faces when I stop by.” SENIOR ERIN DONEGAN

“My favorite thing about CMT is the environment and how I can talk to someone at any time of the day if I need to.” SENIOR CECILIA FISK

“It gives me a spot to do schoolwork and get interaction with other people that I wouldn’t have in the lunchroom.” SENIOR JOE HAYES

“I really like the people I interact with, and definitely, the food was a big help when I was westling.” SENIOR MASON KUMM

“CMT is like a second family. Being able to make connections and friendships with people my last year has been very great.” SENIOR JENNY VEGA